Soccer/UEFA Cup/Liverpool 3; Olimpija Ljubljana 0: In the annals of great European nights at Anfield a humdrum victory over the side currently seventh in the Slovenian league will scarcely merit anything more than the small print.
But Gerard Houllier was still entitled to be thoroughly enamoured by this vibrant performance full of invention and notable for a first Liverpool goal for Anthony Le Tallec, a talented French teenager of whom much is anticipated.
This was Le Tallec's first start at Anfield, playing alongside Emile Heskey with Harry Kewell tucked in behind. For a club that is so often derided as playing negative football, it was an ambitious line-up and Houllier's sense of adventure was rewarded with a goal from all three of his attackers.
There could, perhaps should, have been more, but nevertheless this was a hugely satisfying night for Liverpool and particularly Steven Gerrard, having been summoned to the manager's office yesterday to learn he was replacing Sami Hyypia as full-time captain.
Relinquishing Hyypia of the role was something Houllier had thought "long and hard about", but Gerrard's imperious form for club and country merited the promotion. When Liverpool are needing inspiration, he is the player to whom they turn; when they are good, he is usually behind it. Though playing deeper than many Liverpool fans would care to see, his performance last night was of a man inspired by the challenge rather than fazed by it.
"This is not something that should not be seen as anything against Sami," said Houllier. "He's been a good captain for us and has lifted six trophies, but I have considered a number of issues. Firstly, I think Stevie has certain leadership qualities that I spotted very early in his career. All he needed was time to mature. Now he is 23 he is ready.
"Secondly, this will help Sami's game too. I think he was ready to take on too much responsibility at times. I've explained this to Sami and his response was first class."
"Sami was one of the first to congratulate me," Gerrard said later. "He's been a great captain and he'll still lead the team from the back. I have to say I'm thrilled, though. The manager has always said I would be captain one day, but it was still a shock."
The same could be said of Liverpool needing half an hour to emphasise the gulf in status against such willing but limited opponents.
But when the breakthrough finally came, it was the climax of some near-unremitting pressure. Le Tallec, 19 earlier this month, has a cultured touch for a tall player, and he deserved his first goal after a display full of quality.
In truth, it was a fairly mundane goal and the teenager certainly owes a debt of gratitude to Borut Mavric, the Olimpija goalkeeper. His untidy attempt to gather El-Hadji Diouf's low, right-wing cross succeeded only in presenting the ball to Le Tallec, who scored from just inside the penalty area.
Within seven minutes Heskey, having already squandered two relatively simple chances, had doubled the lead and any lingering fears of an upset were extinguished there and then. This time the assist came from Vladimir Smicer with a low centre.
Despite stretching awkwardly, Heskey managed to get a decisive touch to prod the ball beyond Mavric for only his second goal of the season.
The floodgates opened, now it was a question of how ruthless Liverpool were feeling. Kewell made it 3-0 with a sumptuous volley from Heskey's cross. But, with their place in the second round assured, the remainder of the match was played out amid drowsy contentment, exemplified by Diouf's 77th-minute penalty miss after Marko Kmetec fouled Steve Finnan.
LIVERPOOL: Dudek; Finnan, Hyypia, Biscan, Riise; Diouf, Gerrard (Diao, 76), Smicer (Henchoz); Kewell; Le Tallec (Sinama-Pongolle, 61), Heskey. OLIMPIJA LJUBLJANA: Mavric; Mirtic, Grabic, Budicin; Ilic, Zlogar, Kosic (Aljancic, 40), Budicin; Pokorn (Kmetec, h-t), Rudonja (Puc, 61); Jusufbegovic. Booked: Puc.
Referee: S Messner (Austria).
